Bruce Springsteen is sharing a preview of his upcoming tour in support of “The Ties That Bind: The River Collection”, a newly-issued 7-disc box set marking the 35th anniversary of the 1980 double-album.
The package presents the original record alongside “The River: Single Album” – originally named “The Ties That Bind” – a 10-track album that Springsteen recorded in 1979 as a follow up to 1978’s “Darkness On The Edge Of Town” but never released.
The 4CD/3DVD collection also includes 22 outtakes from the studio sessions alongside an hour-long documentary/interview and a legendary 1980 concert filmed at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.
"We made the box set and there was no plan to tour," Springsteen tells SiriusXM's E Street Radio (audio below). "Then we felt, 'Maybe we should do a show just to raise the flag and have some fun and make it a little more exciting.' I said. 'Okay, maybe we'll do a show in New York.' Then that went quick to, 'Maybe we should do a couple of shows.' Then it turns into, 'Maybe we should do a small series of shows, basically one-nighters, with maybe a little bit around the country."
A nine-week series of North American shows promoting the release will begin January 16 in Pittsburgh, PA and wrap up with two Los Angeles dates in mid-March.
Each night of the tour will be mixed for release on Live.BruceSpringsteen.net as high-quality downloads and CDs, with recordings available within days of each performance.
The 2016 run will see Springsteen and the E Street Band perform “The River” in its entirety.
"It's going to take a little guessing out of the evening," Springsteen admits. "You're going to know what the next song is. Maybe we'll make up for some of that in the encores.
"We plan on picking out some of the best of our outtakes for the end of the show, and there will obviously be some fan favorites. I don't know myself how it will play out. It should be interesting and a lot of fun for the fans."
Tickets for the 2016 shows will go on sale Friday, December 11.
The New Jersey rocker will promote the package with a December 19 performance on NBC-TV’s Saturday Night Live.
See also:
Bruce Springsteen announces 2016 The River tour
VIDEO: Bruce Springsteen premieres 1980 performance of Out In The Street
Bruce Springsteen premieres unreleased River track Party Lights
Bruce Springsteen to perform on Saturday Night Live
Search Bruce Springsteen at hennemusic
